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This section is for discussions with other women who have probably been through the same signs/symptoms that you may be experiencing. Please note, we cannot offer medical advice and encourage members to discuss their concerns with their doctors. New members, come on in and introduce yourself!

just wanted to give a quick update on my situation. I am now 34 weeks and 2 days! I never thought I would make it this far. My protein is still increasing every week. I'm not sure how high it is because for the last two weeks nobody had mentioned and I'm kinda nervous to ask. They are higher though. I am still getting 2X weekly nst and once a week ultrasound, once a week 24 hour and bloodwork.I went back to the mfm doctor on June 7th. My uric acid levels and liver enzyme levels actually decreased. He thinks I have an underlying condition and did not seem concerned about preclampsia ( although I'm still worried) On Thursday I had my "big" hospital day. All was good but the obgyn office had a discussion on my case and decided that from now on I will be seeing a MD instead of my midwife. :/ don't really know what to expect. I see him this Thursday. I'm so very much aware of the complications that come with my impaired kidney function. It's definitely getting worse. I have felt crappy these last two days mainly fatigued. does having all the protein and no symptoms give me and increased chance of hellp? now being on my last leg of this pregnancy I'm starting to winner if I will develop preclampsia or hellp... It's crunch time. I'm anxiously awaiting my outcome. my midwife said if it's still only proteinuria they think I will be induced at 37/38 weeks. guess only time will tell....

yeah that definitely makes sense! I wish I knew why it happens. I had some rough times a few years ago with panic attacks that even landed me in the hospital once. My anxiety varies. Prior to getting pregnant I had job changes, a very hard break-up, and moved across the country. I was working a very high stress job before being put on bed rest. Also the person I had the break up with committed suicide when I was seven weeks along. I flew to the funeral and grieved my heart out. I was emotionally bent. I later read that signifcant stress and anxiety may factor into preeclampsia/hellp... not sure if it is true or not but it would be true for me!

My MFM always told me something similar to what Caryn said when I would find a good reason why my BP was high (running late, nerves, etc.) He'd tell me, "That's nice, that happens to a lot of people and their BP stays just fine."

White-coat hypertension is actually a risk factor for preeclampsia. When someone has that response to medical personnel (or traffic), then it means that something about the way that her body regulates blood pressure is broken - because if it weren't broken, it wouldn't *do* that.

And whatever it is that's broken about the way your body regulates blood pressure raises risk of PE, so I'm really glad they're keeping a close eye on you.

I went into pregnancy with a hx of 90/60 but white-coat spikes, and... yeah.

Caryn, @carynjrogers, who is not a doctor and who talks about science stuff *way* too much DS Oscar born by emergent C-section at 34 weeks for fetal indicators, due to severe PEDD Bridget born by C-section after water broke at 39 weeks after a healthy pregnancy

thank you for the responses! I do realize how fast things can change and my condition can get very serious over night. I'm starting to think the steroids will be a good idea and if they help mature babies lungs then it can't be a bad thing. I had two high bp readings during 22/23 weeks at the hospital that prompted the initial 24 hour. But I know I have had anxiety when my bp gets taken since I was a teenager. Since those readings my bp has been great. I get it taken 3/4 times at each nst 2x a week. It's always normal. I also take it at home frequently and it's just fine. maybe I am headed towards hellp... My kidneys are definitely doing funky things. It's possible I had an underlying issue although I've never been effected by it. I got more blood work done today and will find out tomorrow what it looks like. I'm hoping for the best.

What have your blood pressures been like lately? There are other reasons for protein in urine, but if your blood pressures have been high and you have that much protein in your 24-hr urine then I would think that would be a positive diagnosis for preeclampsia. Other common reasons for high protein in your urine are infection, fever (any type of infection or fever can increase the protein in your urine), or other kidney disease. For people without kidney disease, a high protein diet shouldn't really affect the protein levels in your urine, but if you have some underlying kidney disease or if you have PE and it is affecting your kidney function you might want to avoid a high protein diet. Has your midwife/doctor checked your kidney function lately (blood creatinine levels)? When I was hospitalized my 24-hr protein levels were over 1200 mg and my blood creatinine levels had increased to a level that indicated I was beginning to experience kidney failure.

I am not a doctor, but it sounds like you are one of us "unusual"/atypical girls. Or possibly you started your pregnancy with some underlying conditions like maybe kidney issues that you've never known about that are showing up now.

I went into the hospital with severe upper right quadrant pain. My blood pressure was normal and I was not spilling any protein (at least not on a dip test.) They did bloodwork and it was mostly normal with my liver enzymes "just slightly" elevated but not particularly concerning. Six hours later they re-did my bloodwork and my platelets had dropped by 100,000 and my liver enzymes had more than doubled from their previous "slightly elevated" levels...I was in full blown HELLP without high blood pressure or to their knowledge spilling protein. (With HELLP, there is a strong risk of liver rupture or organ failure, blood platelets can drop so low that it requires transfusions, etc., so the recommendation is almost always *IMMEDIATE* delivery.) With *most* people, the progression goes preeclampsia to severe preeclampsia to HELLP, but that's not always the case, so it's a very good thing they are keeping a close eye on you.

Regarding white coat syndrome, my blood pressure is always higher in the office than it is at home, but even so, it's never been as high as 150/100. It is definitely not good for your numbers to be that high even if you believe it's just because you are at the doctor, because it probably means your numbers creep up there when you are stressed or busy at home too. Are you monitoring your blood pressure at home at all?

Steroids are given to help develop the baby's lungs. The last week they are usually given is 32 weeks, after that, most doctors won't do them. The average onset from diagnosis to delivery with pre-eclampsia is 2 weeks, but that's just an average with people like me thrown in who deliver hours after being diagnosed and then there are people who limp along for weeks and weeks. In my second (healthy) pregnancy, I was given them at 32 weeks for "just in case" because I was having some up and down blood pressures and swelling, nothing super alarming yet but we knew we were delivering at 36 weeks and I was hoping they might help his lungs out. (He had no trouble breathing at all and roomed in with us.) Even though you hopefully will not have to deliver within 2 weeks, things can change VERY quickly and the 2 doses of steroids have to be given 24 hours apart. Ideally they do want to give them as close to delivery as possible, but if they wait until you have sky high blood pressures, etc., then you may not have time to get both doses without putting your health and the baby's health at serious risk. It's better that they give them "just in case" when a few things are looking off than you have to deliver early and not get them at all because they don't have the time to wait. So I personally think it's a really good thing they are giving you the steroids.

I just wanted to give an update and ask for some more advice. I will be 31 weeks tomorrrow. My protein has gone back up from the 656 it was at on May 11th. May 17th is was 699 and today it is 784. I have been getting twice weekly nst's and once a week I get an ultrasound to check fluid levels. At my appointment today my midwife said that I do not have pre eclampsia like she had thought but I do have severe proteinuria. I do 24 hour urine tests every week. I am wondering if there is anything that is influencing these tests. I know they test for quantity and not concentration. Could eating a heavy protein diet the day I do the 24 hour have an effect on the test? Laying in bed all day or getting up frequently? I wish I would have started doing these "experiments" awhile ago. I think this coming week I am going to lay off on the protein the day of and see if that changes anything.... does this sound like a good idea? My midwife also informed me today that I will be recieving corticosteroids on Monday and then again on Tuesday. I don't know what to think! I thought that these are only given are in preterm labor, or if it is thought that you will deliver within a two week window. She never said anthing about me delivering within the next few weeks. It is to my knowledge that I am still going to be induced at 39 weeks! Does this sound like a good idea? I have tried to do some research on the steriods with no luck. I don't think there is any side effects....they couldn't hurt right? Any response would be great!!

Yes, I did get my results in. My protein has decreased by 100 and is back down to 656. My bloodwork came back normal as well. Maybe after weeks of bedrest I am finally seeing the results? who knows... I wasn't scheduled to do another 24 hour this week. I am now set up to begin twice weekly nst's and bi weekly ultrasounds until I deliver. I am 29 weeks today and very excited about that. I am hoping I can make it full term. I still have no symptoms and my bp is around 110/70 at home. The hardest part about this is wait and the unkown. Its a scary and diffcult time. Thank you ladies for all your responses! I really appreciate it.

Caryn, @carynjrogers, who is not a doctor and who talks about science stuff *way* too much DS Oscar born by emergent C-section at 34 weeks for fetal indicators, due to severe PEDD Bridget born by C-section after water broke at 39 weeks after a healthy pregnancy